Crate or box for sheet-metal plates.



E. NORTON.

OBATB 0R BOX FOB. SHEET METAL PLATES. PPLmATmn FILED 001222. 1901.

i 902,901. Patented N0v.3,19o8.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3mm/dou 1m: murs Psrsns co..'lwAsumaroN. n, c.

E. NoRToN. CRATE OB BOX PQR SHEET METAL PLATES. APPLICATION FILED 001222, 1907.

902,901. Patented N0v.3,19os

afl/L55. 4. 2 SHEETS-snm* s nm wenns wenn: co., wasffmowu, c. c,

has been emptied, of its parts being nest- -they can be returned at low rates of freight UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

EDWIN NORTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CRATE 0R BOX FOR SHEET-METAL PLATES.

To all whom` fit may concern:

Be it known thatI. EDWIN Non'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Imprm'enients in Crates or Boxes for Slieet-lvletal Ilates, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a crate or box for the reception and shipment of sheet-metal plates, such as tin-plates.

It has been the custom heretofore for inanufacturers to pack tin-plate in boxes made of wood. Boxes made of this material for packing tin-plate are objectionable for various reasons. Owing to the fact that they are bulky as well as frail in structure, the wood boxes can not be economically returned by the consumer of the tin-plate to the manufacturer as the freight charges would nearly if not quite equal the value of the boxes. The wood boxes, therefore, are used only once for tin plate, and as they are unsuitable for any other use they have no appreciable value and the cost of the box must be added to the price of the tin-plate.

The crate or box which is the subject of the present invention, is designed expressly for the packing and shipment of tin-plate, is so constructed as to admit, after the box ed or packed in compact form, which reduction of bulk lessens the cost 0f transportation., and renders it economically practicable for the consumer to return to the manufacturer of the tin-plate, the empty boxes which may be used another time.

The drawing herewith is an illustration of the present invention, but as the construction may be modified in various details the invention is not limited to the construction shown.

Figures 1 and 2 are to plan, and side views, res ectively, of the ower or box part of the shipping package. Fig. 3 is a per spective vlew of one corner of the lower or box part. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cover part of the shipping package. Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of one corner of the cover part. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one corner of the complete shipping package showing the box part and cover part united. a number of the box parts nested together to make a compact bundle, in which form Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 22,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing Patented Nov. 8, 1908.

1907. Seria1 No. 398,576.

to the tin-plaie factory to be used again. Fig. S is a sectional view showing in like manner a number of covers nested together.

The shipping package here shown may be uuu e by preference of galvanized metal plates. The lower or box part, 1, is rectangular and obviously may be formed by means of dies from one integral piece, of formed of straight pieces suitable for sides-and ends and which are united by rivets or otherwise at the corners. The sides and ends, 3, are flaring. so that the box part is largest across the top; at the bottom the sides and ends have an inward turned flange, 4, which is in a horizontal plane, and these flanges are united at the corners, 5, of the box. The top edges of the sides as well as the ends are provided with eyes or coils, (i, such as are seen in hinges; these coils turn outward or away from the inner surface of the walls. These coils are tubular to admit a pin, and are preferably formed from the sheet metal of said sides and ends. The coils are separated from each other by notches or spaces, 7.

The cover part, 2, of the shipping pack age may be inade in a manner similar to that described for the box part. and must be of shape and size to fit down within the top of the box part. The said cover is in the forni of a rectangular frame having a fiat iiange, 8, on the upper surface of which is a low wall, 9, with solid corners and continuously extending around al1 four sides; this produces a dish formation that adds strength to the cover individually and said low wall, 9, sets down within the top and is in close contact with the walls of the lower box part, 1. In operation, or use, the flat flange, 8, of the cover sets upon the topmost sheet of tinp1ates in the box part. The cover has on its low wall, 9, eyes or coils, 10, like those on the box part and which turn outward from the 10W wall, 9.

When the cover, 2, has its position upon the box part, 1, as shown in Fig. 6, the coils, 10, of the cover will fit between the coils, 6, on the box part, and pins, 11, may then be inserted at the corners of the package and pushed through the coils of both cover and box part and thereby fasten the two parts together. When the pins have been pushed in, the pin-heads take position at the corners of the box. As many pins may be used for fastening as may be found convenient. In some cases one pin may serve the purpose on the shorter ends, and two pins on each of the longer sides. When the cover is secured to its position within the Walls of the box as shown in Fi 6, the low Wall, 9, continuing around all Iour of the edges and being so id at the corners, serves to stiffen and brace the box.

In the drawing the box part, 1, and also the cover part, 2, are shown as having an open-center, that is, there is no sheet-metal completely covering either the bottom of the box part or the top of the cover; it is obvious that the open centers may be closed. However, the form of fastening shown-the coils and the pins may be used without regard to the centers being open or closed. If desired in case the centers are left open, a sheet of thick packing paper may be placed on the iiange, 4, of the bottom before placing the tin-plates in position, and another sheet of the same heavy paper placed upon the topmost tin-plate. These paper sheets would close the center openings and protect the tin plates from dirt.

A shipping package for tin-plate constructed as shown and described, may be used repeatedly, that is filled at the factory, emptied by the consumer, and refilled at the factory. When the consumer has removed the tin-plates from the box, and has accumulated a sufficient number of em ty boxes, he may pack the empties in the orm of bundles and return them to the tin-plate factory to be refilled. To enable this to be done a number of the lower box parts may be nested together, as shown in Fig. 7 thus forming a bundle of size convenient for shipment. In like manner a number of covers may be bundled, shown in Fig. 8.

It is obvious that certain of the constructions and combinations of parts shown and described, afford useful results and desirable advantages in a crate or box without regard to the sides of the receptacle being flared or not, such 'features of the invention are therefore not limited to use in a device Where the receptacle has Haring sides.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl is,-

A crate or box for receiving and shipping sheetanetal plates, comprisingl a rectangular sheet-metal receptacle provided at its topedges with eyes or coils which turn outward or away from the inner surface of the walls; a rectangular cover having a low Wall oontinuously extending around all four sides, said Wall being solidly united at the corners and provided with eyes or coils which turn outward from the low Wall, said cover setting down Within the top of the Walls of the receptacle and the exterior of its said low wall fitting in close contact with the interior of the receptacle Wall and reinforcing the latter.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN NORTON. ivitnesses:

FRnDK. W. Hass, G. FERDINAND Voer. 

